Means for adjusting articulated bedsprings



May 27, 1930. R. DOUGHERTY MEANS FOR ADJUSTING ARTICULATED BEDSPRINGSFiled Reb. 9, 1928 y MM ' for effecting relative adjustment of the-Patented May 27, 1930 ACE LAURENCE R. DOUGHERTY, OF PENFIELD,PENNSYLVANIA, .ASSIGNOR TO H. D. DOUGHERTY & COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OFPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA MEANS FOR ADJSTING ARTCULATED `:BEDSPRINGSApplication filed February 9, 1925. Serial No. 252,988.l

Broadly speaking, my invention may be regarded as an improvementrelating to springs for use upon beds in hospitals, which springscomprise a plurality of hinged or articulated parts. .An example of suchspring which is well known and in general use is known as the Fowler7spring, and the present invention relates specifically to an improvementin the means for effecting adjustment of the hingedly connected orarticulated parts. of the said spring.

In the construction at present employed hingedly connected parts ofthesesprings a couple of shafts are provided the ends of which projectbeyond the end of lthefoot portion of the bed, in consequence'ffwhichthe cranks, or other means by whichl .fth e said shafts may betated, are locatedvoutside of the bed structure and are in the way ofpersons who may be working in the room where the bed islocated-particularly persons who may be caring for a patient who may beoccupying the bed.

The general object of the invention is to provide means of novelconstruction whereby the ends of the shafts may be terminated inwardlyof the outer side of the frame at the foot of the bed Withoutinterfering in the slightest with the practical operation of the saidshafts to effect relative adjustment of the articulated members of thesprings.

It also is an object of the invention to provide means adjustablyconnected with the said end portionsand adaptedto be moved intopositions partially outside of the-said frame and into positionsinwardly of said frame.

To these and other ends the invention comprehends the construction ashereinafter described in detail and as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which I have illustrated one form of a convenient mechanicalembodiment of the said invention. However, it is to be understood thatthe invention is susceptible of embodiment in other forms ofconstruction than that shown, and that changes in the details of theconstruction may be made within the scope of the claims aphandle in itsinward or inoperative position;

and j" Fig. 4 is a view in end elett/ation -efa bed provided with theinventionff In tli'edrawing I have shown the vfoot end portion of a bedcomprising the legs 1, bottom cross bar 2, and top cross bars 3 and 4.Slats 5 are provided, as usual, between the cross bars 2 and 4. Theshafts l0 and 11, for effecting relative adjustment of the articulatedor hingedly connected portions .of the spring, are of the usual knownconstruction except as they are modified in connection with myinvention. have shown at 12 a portion of one part of a spring which isadapted to be adjusted relatively to other parts thereof not shown.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing I have shown the shaft 10 as provided with aworm 13, which in engagement with the internally threaded openingthrough a. block 14, whereby upon rotation of the said shaft 1()adjustnient of the said block let is effected t'o cause adjustment ofthe link 15, one end of which has pivotal connection with the saidblock, as shown. The other or opposite end of the saidlink, not shown,has connection in the usual manner with a part of the spring structure.

It will be understood that both of the shafts 10 and 11 are identical inconstruction. Hence the description of the construction as applied toshaft 10 will be equal to the construction as applied to shaft 11. Bothof the shafts terminate preferably inwardly of the inner side oftheframe at the foot ofthe bed, as indicated at 20. A sleeve 21 is slidablyor adjustably mounted upon the end portion of the said shaft 10. Thesaid sleeve is of considerable length and is provided with a slot 22,through which a stud 23 projects from the said shaft 10. Itwill beapparent that while the stud 23 permits adjustment of the Sleeve uponthe shaft it prevents its removal therefrom and also limits the extentof the back-and-forth or longitudinal adjustment of the sleeve. Theouter end of the sleeve is provided with a handle or crank 25. The saidsleeve is also provided with a web or fin 26, which constitutes astrengthening means thereof and also constitutes means for engaging aslot at 27 in the lower side of a circular opening 28 in a dependingiange portion 29 of a plate 30 secured in turn to a plate 31 mountedupon the frame 32 supported by the legs of the head and foot portions ofthe bed. The parts 29 and 3() may be regarded and referred to as abracket. It will be observed that when the inner end of the slot 22 isin engagement with the stud 23 the outer end ofthe sleeve 21 projects beyond'the frame at the foot of the bed. This relationship is' clearlyshown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. At such time the web 26 is out ofengagement with the slot 27 in the depending iange portion 29, sothatthe said sleeve, together with the shaft 10 to which it is connected,may be rotated. At such time it is desirable that the sleeve shall heheld against accidental movement inwardly into or toward the positionindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. 3. To thatend I have provided a fiat spring 35, secured at its inner end by screws36 to the outer side of the sleeve 21. The opposite or outer end of thesaid spring is provided with a pin 37 which extends through an openingl38 in the said sleeve and is adapted to engage either the groove 40 nearthe Iouter end of the shaft 10 or the groove 41 located further inwardlyfrom the end of said shaft, as shown or indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 ofthe drawing.

'lo facilitate the adj ustnlent of the sleeve 21 and the handle 25thereof inwardly and outwardly upon the shaft 10 I have provided nnurleV finger piece 43 upon the said handle at a pointA intermediate itsends, as shown. The said finger piece affords a convenient means to begrasped by a person desiring to adj ust' the sleeve and the handleinwardly or outwardly.

It will be seen that by my invention I have enabled the provision ofmeans whereby the handle or other device for rotating a shaft,

vthe rotation of which 'effects relative adjustment of `the articulatedmembers orsections of a bed spring. may be adjusted inwardly so as tooccupy a position or positions inside of the end frame of a bed, as whenthe said device is not in use, or may be caused to occu py a positionpartly or partially outside of said frame when it is desired to use thesaine to rotate the said shaft to effect the desired relative adjustmentof the spring.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1s:

1. In means for relatively adjusting the articulated members of a bedspring, the com-l bination of a rotatable shaft one end of whichterminates inwardly of the outer side of an end frame of a bed, meansmounted upon the cn'd portion of said shaft for causing rotationthereof, the said means including a sleeve, means to permit the saidsleeve to be adjusted inwardly and outwardly upon the said shaft toposition the outer portion of the said sleeve either inwardly oroutwardly of the outer side of the said end frame, and means operatingto lock said sleeve and shaft against rotation whenthe sleeve isadjusted to its inward po sition upon the shaft.

2. In means for effecting relative adjustment of the articulated membersof a bed spring, the combination of a shaft rotatably supported upon theframe of a bed, one end of which shaft terminates inwardly of the outerside of an end frame 'of the said bed, whichA shaft is provided with astud which projects outwardly therefrom, a sleeve mounted upon the endportion of said shaft and being adjustable longitudinally thereof thesaid sleeve having an elongated slot through which the said studprojects, the ,said sleeve having at its outer end a crankby which ittogether with the said shaft is adapted to be turned and the saidsleevebeing adapted to be moved into position with its outer end and thesaid crank located inwardly of the said end frame and also into positionwith its outer end and the said crank located outside of the said frame.

3. In means for relatively adjusting the articulated members of a bedspring, the com.- bination of a rotatable shaft supported upon the bedframe with one end thereof terminating inwardly of an end frame of thesaid bed, the said shaft being provided a distance from said endv with astud which projects therefrom, a sleeve mounted upon the end portion ofsaid shaft which sleeve is provided with an elongated slot through whichthe said stud projects, the said stud permitting longtudinal adjustmentof the said sleeve upon the said shaft but preventing removal thereoffrom the said shaft, the outer end of said sleeve being provided withahandle by which it together with the said shaft may be rotated, andmeans for preventing rotation of the sa id sleeveand of the said shaftupon which it is mountedwhen the said sleeve occupies an-inner positionupon said shaft.

4:. In means for relatively adjusting the articulated members of a bedspring, the combination of a shaft rotatably supported upon the bedframe one end of which terminates spring having a pin mounted upon ayielding part thereof which pin projects through an opening in the saidsleeve and is adapted,

to engage 'either of the said recesses in the said shaft, a handleprovided upon the outer end of said sleeve whereby the latter togetherwith the said shaft may be rotated, which Y sleeve is adapted to beadjusted upon said y located inwardly of theouter side of the said Yaoshaft into inner and outer positions in the first of which positions thesaid handle is end frame and in the second of which positions the saidhandle is located outside of the said frame. i l l 5. In means forrelatively adjustin the articulated members of a bed spring, t ecombination of a shaft, means mounted upon one end of said shaft forcausing rotation of said shaft, said means being adjustable longi-.tudinally of said shaft, means for preventr ing rotation of said firstnamed means relatively to said shaft, and means which engages said firstnamed means upon adjustment of thesame longitudinally of said shaft intoone' position thereon to positively lock the said' shaft againstrotation.

6. In means for relatively 'adjusting the articulatedl members of a bedspring, the combination of a rotatable shaft 011e` end of whichterminates inwardly of the outer side of an end frame of a bed, a sleevemounted upon -the end portion of the said shaft and adjustablelongitudinally thereof, means connecting said sleeve to said shaftwhereby upon rotation of the said sleeve rotation of the Vsaid shaft iseffected, a handle upon the outer end-of said sleeve. for actuating thesametogether with said shaft, and means adapted to engage the saidsleeve when it is moved inwardly upon said shaft to prevent rotation ofthe said sleeve and of the said shaft I l 7. In means for relativelyadjusting the articulated members of a bed spring, the combination of ashaft one end of which terminates inwardly of the outer side of an endframe of the bed, the portion of said shaft ad- -joining said end beingprovided with a stud which projects laterally therefrom, and the saidshaft being .also provided with recesses in predetermined spacedrelation to -each i other, a sleeve mounted upon said shaft which studprojects, the said sleeve being adjustable longitudinally upon the saidshaft, the said stud and slot cooperating to limit the movements of saidadjustments and the said sleeve being provided with a spring mountedupon its outer side-and having a pin projecting through an opening inthe said sleeve which pinv is adapted to engage the outermost of saidrecesses in the shaft when the sleeve is in its outermost position andthe other of said recesseswhen the said sleeve is in its innermostposition, the engagement of the said pin with the said recessespreventing accidental longitudinal movement of the said sleeve, and ahandle mounted upon the outer end of said sleeve for rotating the lattertogether with the said shaft.

8. In means for relatively adjusting the articulated members of a bedspring, the comone end thereof terminating inwardly of the outer side ofan end frame of the bed, a han- 'l dle for rotating said shaft, whichhandle is provided with a sleeve slidably engaging the end portion ofsaid shaft which is in adjoining relation to said frame the said handlebeing adjustable longitudinally of said shaft to inward and outwardpositions, means for lpreventing relative rotation of said shaft andhandle, and means for yieldingly retaining the said handle in either itsinward or outward position.

9.'In means for relatively adjusting the articulated members of a bedspring, the combination of a shaft which is rotatably supported, asleeve mounted on an end and being slidable longitudinally of saidshaft, a stop for retainingsaid sleevein engagement with lsaid shaft,the said stop also operating to lock the said sleeve and shaft togetherso that rotation of the sleeve causes rotation of the said shaft, and ahandle connected with said sleeve by which the said sleeve and shaft maybe rotated, and means operating upon longitudinal sliding movement ofthe said sleeve into'one position upon said shaft to positively lock thesaid sleeve and shaft against rotation.

l0. In means for relatively adjusting the articulated members of a bedspring, the combination of a shaft which is rotatably supported, asleeve mounted on an end of said shaft, means for` permitting slidablemovement of said sleeve to inward and outward positions on said shaft,means for locking the said sleeve and shaft together to prevent relativerotation of the sleeve and shaft, a handle having connectionjwith'saidsleeve for rotating the same together with said shaft, means foryieldingly retaining the said sleeve in either its inward or outwardposition, and means engaging the said sleeve to against rotation uponmovement of the said sleeve and the said handle to inward position.

11. Means for relatively adjusting the articulated members of a bedspring, which means comprises a shaft rotatably supported with one endthereof terminating inwardly of the outer side of an end frame of thebed upon which the spring is mounted, a sleeve mounted upon the said endof the said shaft, means for permitting inward and outward adjustment ofsaid sleeve on said shaft, means for locking said sleeve and shafttogether, a handle having connection with said sleeve for rotatingthesame together with the said shaft, the said sleeve being provided with arib extending longitudinally thereof and project-ing from a sidethereof, a stationary bracket having an opening through which the saidsleeve is adapted to be moved, the said opening having a notch in oneedge thereof with which the said rib is adapted to engage when the saidsleeve is moved inwardly on the said shaft and lock the said sleevetogether with the shaft upon which the same is mounted against rotation,and a support for said bracket, said support being mount-` ed upon thebed.

l2. Means for adjusting the articulated members of a bed spring, whichmeans comprises a shaft rotatably supported, a stationary bracket havingan opening through which an end of the said shaft projects, said openinghaving a notch in one edge thereof, a

sleeve mounted upon the said end of said shaft, and means connectingsaid sleeve to said end of said shaft, said means preventing rotation ofthe shaft and sleeve relatively to each other to permit movement of saidsleeve longitudinally of said shaft whereby the said sleeve may be movedback and forth through the said opening, said sleeve having means Ithereon for engaging the notch in the said opening to lock the saidshaft and sleeve against rotation, and the said sleeve also having ahandle projecting from the outer end thereof by which the said shaft andsleeve may be rotated.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, l have hereuntosigned my name this third day of February, A. D. 1928.

LAURENCE R. DOUGHERTY.

